Full name | G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis | |||
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Nickname(s) | The Demigod The Elder | |||
Short name | Iraklis | |||
Founded | 29 November 1908 as Macedonikos Gymnasticos Syllogos | |||
Ground | Kaftanzoglio Stadium | |||
Capacity | 27,770 | |||
Owner | Panagiotis Monemvasiotis | |||
Chairman | Aristotelis Perrakis | |||
Manager | vacant | |||
League | Super League Greece 2 | |||
2023–24 | Super League Greece 2, 7th | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Iraklis F.C.[1][2] (Greek: Ηρακλής Π.Α.Ε.) also known as Iraklis Veneti Bakeries F.C. (Greek: Ηρακλής Φούρνοι Βενέτη Π.Α.Ε.) for sponsorship reasons, is a Greek professional football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. As of 2021, the club competes in the Super League Greece 2. They play their home matches at Kaftanzoglio Stadium.
Founded in 1908 as "Macedonikos Gymnasticos Syllogos" (Macedonian Gymnastics Club), they are one of the oldest in Greek football and the oldest in Thessaloniki, hence the nickname Ghireos (meaning the Elder). A year later, the name "Iraklis" (Heracles) was added to the club's name as an honour to the ancient Greek hero Heracles (or Hercules as the Roman equivalent). The team's colours are cyan or blue and white, inspired by the Greek flag. Iraklis is a founding member of Macedonia Football Clubs Association, as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, as a part of G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki.
Before the formation of the nationwide league of Alpha Ethniki, Iraklis competed in the league that was run by the Macedonia Football Clubs Association, winning it on no less than five occasions. The club has also played in five Greek Cup finals, lifting the trophy once in the 1976 final, which is the club's only domestic trophy. They have also an international title, as they won the Balkans Cup in 1985.